Analog Watch Hand Position Detection Using Model-Specific Image Templates
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing analog electronic watches face challenges in accurately detecting the current display positions of hands on a dial plate in images, due to variations in shape, color, and manufacture year, which affects the accuracy of display time correction.
Innovation Solution
An analog electronic watch system that includes a watch-side communication unit, an imaging unit, and a terminal-side controller, which receives watch identification information and generates display time information based on hand shape and image processing, enabling precise correction of hand positions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If generic image processing is used to detect hand positions without considering specific watch characteristics, then the system can work with any watch type, but detection accuracy deteriorates due to variations in hand shape, color, and design across different watch models
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal equipment stores hand identification information (shape, color, size characteristics) for multiple watch models in advance. Before performing detection, the system retrieves the appropriate hand identification information based on the detected watch model, enabling accurate detection tailored to the specific watch type without requiring manual configuration at detection time
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the detection parameters (hand shape template, color range, size thresholds) dynamically based on the detected watch model. By adjusting these parameters according to the stored hand identification information for each watch type, the system maintains high detection accuracy across diverse watch designs while preserving versatility
2Reliability
If manual correction operation is required to adjust hand positions, then the correction function can be implemented, but the operation complexity increases and user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables automatic correction by detecting the user's gaze direction and automatically adjusting the hand positions to match the detected display time. This eliminates the need for manual operation while maintaining reliable correction functionality, allowing the watch to correct itself based on the user's natural viewing behavior
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors the user's gaze direction and provides feedback by automatically adjusting hand positions when a mismatch is detected. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures accurate time display without requiring user intervention, improving ease of operation while maintaining correction reliability
3Measurement precision
If automatic correction using terminal equipment is implemented, then correction accuracy improves, but the system complexity and required components increase
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal equipment leverages existing multi-functional components (camera for imaging, display for visual feedback, processor for image analysis) to perform hand position detection and correction. By making these existing components serve the additional function of automatic correction, the system achieves high correction accuracy without significantly increasing overall device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal equipment acts as an intermediary between the user and the watch correction process. It captures images, detects hand positions, calculates correction amounts, and transmits correction instructions to the watch, thereby enabling accurate automatic correction while keeping the watch itself relatively simple
Data Source
AI summary
In an analog electronic watch system, a terminal equipment detects current display positions of hands in an image of the hands and a dial plate, and generates current display time information based on the current display positions. An analog electronic watch corrects the display positions of the hands based on the display time information. The terminal equipment at least acquires hand identification information including hand shape information about a shape of the hand of the analog electronic watch based on watch identification information transmitted from the analog electronic watch. The terminal equipment detects the current display positions based on the hand identification information, and transmits display time information based on the current display positions to the analog electronic watch.